The One with the Nutella :)

Hello loved ones!

This week just flew right passed me! It's so hard to watch time go by so fast. I feel like I wake up in the morning.... tired... and then the next thing I know we are back in bed! With all we do in the day I can't believe how fast it goes. We are working like crazy!

 

Updates on investigators- 

The familia Chambi is doing so great! Oh my goodness we had the greatest lesson with them yesterday. I don't know if I've told you but they have 3 boys from 15-7 years old. Pablo, their youngest has disabilities. I can't even express through this email how incredible it was to teach them about the plan of salvation. Yesterday I was explaining where we were before this life, and that we are here on earth to learn and grow so we can become like our Heavenly Father. Hermano Chambi was blown away! He had never heard that before! He was crying so hard... we all couldn't help but cry. The thing is that we had never met Pablo until last night. After we explained the whole lesson to him he said, I want you to meet Pablo, can I go get him?... We both said YES!!! Pablo can't walk so he carried him out to where we were sitting. He is an angel!! The most precious perfect little thing. His dad said he loves music, so I whipped out my hymn book and we started singing to him. We sang I am a child of God. The spirit was so strong!! The coolest thing was that every time we sang, ¨to live with him someday¨ Pablo started smiling and clapping his hands! OH I was crying so hard! After the song we explained to Pablo and his dad that he was going to have a perfect body and live with God for eternity! Oh my goodness you guys I wish I could explain how incredible that was! I couldn't help but look Hermano Chambi in the eyes and say, You have to save your family! You have to get to church. You HAVE to accept this gospel. He looked right back at me and said, I will. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I was a crying mess! My favorite lesson on my mission for sure!! 

The familia Montoya is doing good too! We are working on helping Marcela with her divorce papers and really teaching the whole family and helping them reach baptism together. 

So at district meeting our district leader brought.... NUTELLA!!! Haha, he found it at the grocery store and brought it for us to share! It was so good. A little taste of America :). In the meeting we talked a lot about diligence. Hermana Resendiz (a sister I live with) gave a lesson. She talked about the women at the mall who sell straighteners. Haha, she talked about their diligence! It was really good actually! She explained that most of the time we just pass by and don't want to hear what they have to say. But the ladies basically grab us by the hair and start straightening it. Once we sit down and actually see what those suckers can do... we think, hmm it actually works! Hahah, she applied it to missionary work! Most people hear about mormons and have their expectations. But if we can actually sit down with people and have them TRY IT they become hooked! But one thing is different... the gospel is FREE!! Hahaha, I loved it! I am definitely going to be more diligent :)

So this week we had a ward relief society expo! All of the women in the stake came to show their crafts they had made this year! It was super fun! We were the only missionaries there. We got permission because we took investigators. All of the women in other wards were asking to take their pictures with me! hahaha, I felt famous! It was so fun to be with the ladies of the ward! We definitely bonded and had a great time :)

So I love living with other sisters! We have all grown so close! Last night we had a dance party to the Prince of Egypt soundtrack. Hahah, it was a blast and we couldn't go to sleep because we were laughing so hard! Hahaha I love making memories and enjoying these priceless moments. 

So culture fact- people here go grocery shopping every day... some, every meal. It's absolutely crazy! They go to the store, buy what they need to make lunch and nothing else... I would DIE! I am good with a once a week... once every two weeks... haha anyway... so there's that.

The work is moving forward! I am trying so hard to work harder. The weather isn't too bad. I can sleep at night with just our fan... so we're good for now :) haha, the good thing here is that they're is shade.. So I'm doing great!! Loving life and loving preaching the gospel. 

Oh and to update you all- I am all better! Super healthy. They doctor was sure I had a virus or something but when he got the blood tests he said he was shocked he didn't find anything!... yeah it's called a Priesthood blessing, 100 of prayers at home, and a whole lot of faith. Thank you all for your prayers! Here's to being healthy the rest of my mission! haha :)

I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Hammond

Hermana Salas - RS President -  aka my mom in Tucuman

Me and my comp

The ladies of the ward.  I LOVE THEM!!!

Loving the Argentina breeze. 

Piano lessons

A movie theater in Tucuman

Waiting for the bus.

The One with the baptism of the heart.

HOLA!!

Man what a week! First of all, we had a baptism!!! Haha it's a bautismo de corazon.... which means a baptism of the heart. A little girl in the branch was baptized. The people here don't understand that their kids don't have to listen to the missionaries to be baptized like they did. Her mom asked us to stop by and give her the lessons. And no matter how much we explain to them that it is unnecessary, the Argentines are persistent... haha. It was so beautiful. Her name is Balnea. It reminded me a lot of my baptism. Dressed in white, so nervous. Her dad is a member but less active. He didn't know if he was going to be able to make it. But right before it started he walked in the door. It was so spiritual. I am so grateful that I have an active family. It is a blessing I often take for granted. 

So this week I have been pretty sick. Nothing to worry about but we weren't able to work as much as usual. I have had bad stomach pains. I think it is just from all the changes. The food, water, everything. We went to the doctor on Wednesday and he wanted to get some blood tests done just to be safe. I officially got poked with a needle in Argentina... my bucket list is complete. haha we go back to the doctor tomorrow. I am feeling better now... but still have a lot of pain. I got a Priesthood blessing and was told to be patient and diligent with my recovery... I have been on a diet of nothing but rice crackers and herbal tea... talk about patient and diligent. haha but it sure is helping! I know it will pass but would be very grateful for your prayers. 

So we found another family!!! Familia Chambi! Holy cow they are golden!!! They have accepted a baptismal date for the 7th of December! They are a very poor very humble family. It will be a big sacrifice for them to come to church so pray that the Lord will provide a way.

So my studies and thoughts lately have been centered on what the Lord wants me to do here. I am hitting my half way point in a few weeks and have often felt that I haven't been fulfilling my purpose because I haven't been baptizing as much as I expected. I know that Heavenly Father expects even more of me. Well we found this great family and have tons of more with so much potential!... I am going to work so hard to help the people we have make it to baptism but I also know that success isn't measured on how many people get baptized. We are planting seeds. I need to stay focused but always remember that. I am here doing what the Lord wants me to be doing, and with my hard work, he will determine the success. All I can control is me. 

I hope y'all have a great week. 

Hermana Hammond

Family Night

Family Night with Hermana Jimenez

Picnic with Hermana Jimenez

Santiago District

Silly Santiago District

One of my favorite families

Love these guys

Another one of my favorites

And another :)

Newborn baby chick

Leaving Hermana Herrera

Tucuman District

Tucuman Zone

Another favorite

Love her!

Best Friends

Sweet Companions

The One where I put the keys in my frogs....

Hello family!!!!!

Okay I want to update you on some funny things that happened in Santiago! 

So we were reading the introduction of the Book of Mormon with this lady and her granddaughter. Her granddaughter who is 9 was reading the last 2 paragraphs and read, ¨la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santiaganos de los Ultimos dias.¨ Which means the church of Jesus Christ of latter day Santiaganos. Hahah, my comp and I died laughing after. It was so cute!

Another funny story. We were at the sisters apartment in Santiago cooking together. Hermana Rosales, who is Hermana Herrera´s companion is from Peru. While I was making the salad she comes up to me and says, in English, ¨who peed in your cheerios¨ hahahaha, Hermana Herrera and I about passed out laughing. Us Americans love to teach funny phrases to the Latinas. Hahaha, it was hilarious. 

At the reunion of the hermanas, Hermana Chaparro said something that really touched me. She said, regarding to the mission, it's not the best place in the world, but it is the best mission in the world.¨ That is so true in so many ways. Argentina really is a rough place. It is beautiful and the members are wonderful. But the bad forces of the world are so strong, the weather is horrible, (3 people died in Santiago already from the heat... glad I escaped) and there are drugs, pornography, and addictions everywhere. So how do I love it so much? Because I am serving the Lord. I am here on a mission and that's what makes my life so great. He is helping me help the people. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

My last Sunday in Santiago was Mother's Day here in Argentina! Some of the young men and men in the ward sang ¨Oh Elderes de Isreal¨. It was BEAUTIFUL. So spiritual.

Speaking of mothers, there have been 2 Sundays now where the theme was on Mothers. I love the story of the stripling warriors. Everything they were, they owed to their Mothers. I can truly say that everything good about me, came from my mother. ¨Mother¨ is a sacred title that we as women have. Heavenly Father trusts His daughters to raise his children on earth and help them reach their full potential. I love my mother. She means more to me than I can say. She is my hero. 

So I'm sure y'all are wondering about the title of my email... haha, let me explain. So we were in a very poor, very sketchy neighborhood. Before we left from an appointment we decide to hide the phone, keys, and money we had, in our clothes. I was super tired and a little scared. So I took the keys and said, ¨Voy guardar las llaves en mis zapos¨..... which means I am going to put the keys in my frogs... hahaha I meant to say zapatos.... which means shoes.. hahaha, we both looked at each other and busted up laughing!!!! And then we laughed the whole way out of the scary neighborhood. 

So Wednesday the heat finally got to me. I was sick. It is so hot here I can't even believe it. We study with our feet in ice water so we don't pass out. Hahaha, it's a struggle. But this weekend was glorious! It finally cooled down and I feel a lot better! I guess that is to be expected when you are in the hottest mission in the world :)

So this week we found the greatest neighborhood!! We found tons of families and really great people!!! One family we are working with is the Familia Montoya. Their daughter is a member and the parents and their son aren't. Marcela, the mom is working on her papers to divorce her other husband so she can marry her ¨boyfriend¨ and so they can all get baptized!!! I am so excited for them! Please pray that all will go well :) 

So I realized something this week.... A year ago this Thursday I opened my mission call. A year ago I was called to serve in the Argentina Salta Mission and I still couldn't be happier! Super cool.

Anyway, I better get going. We have a family night tonight! I love the members here :)

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers. 

Until next week, 

Hermana Hammond

Culture fact: The people here are super blunt.... you are either gordita o flacita... which means fat or skinny hahaha. They really say it how it is. Luckily I am still flacita :) Haha, for now....

The One I can't believe...

Family!!!!! 

Wow have I seen miracles this week! Tucuman is amazing! I LOVE my companion. LOVE the members. LOVE the investigators. LOVE the views. LOVE EVERYTHING!!!.... except the heat.... we are seriously dying out here... haha we don't have air conditioning in the apartment and I seriously haven't stopped sweating since I got here.... I am losing a ton of weight though so I guess that's a plus :) 

This letter is ¨the one I can't believe¨ for a few reasons.

1. I forgot my planner in the apartment. In my planner I write on sticky notes everything I want to tell you that happens during the week. I can never remember... haha so next week you are going to get a long email... 

2. HOLY SMOKES can we talk about what just happened with my bag?!?!? Y'all don't even know! There are about 100 buses... maybe even more... In our city in Tucuman and the people here aren't the most honest... but seriously we left the internet cafe and walked passed the apartment and this woman called out to us and told us that she had our bag.... WHAT?¿? We had called the bus station but we didn't say we were missionaries or where we lived or ANYTHING! I can't even explain how big of a miracle that was. She had never met us before and I have no idea how my bag got off the bus and in her hands. And then I found out today that they found my notes that I left on the bus when we went to Chile.... I am a very forgetful person I know... haha. BUT I'M SO HAPPY!!! These two experiences really were testimony builders to me that God is aware of me. He wanted to test me to see if I would be willing to put ALL of my faith in Him. Whether I found the bag or not, I knew it would be okay. 

3. I hit 7 months yesterday... I can't even believe it. 6 was such a big milestone for me that 7 snuck up so fast. 

Anyway. Tucuman is great! We have a lot of people progressing! I feel really good about the work. I know that we will have success these next couple of months. I am going to wait another week to get to know more people and then I will tell you about some of them! 

The branch has about 100 people every week! We are working to become a ward. But once again there is no one to play the piano. I got there and started playing some hymns for prelude music. The members started crying! They came up to me and said they haven't heard the hymns from the piano in so long! It is the coolest feeling to touch lives through music. We are going to start a piano class. I am going to teach from the simplified hymns so that when I leave there will be people that can play. I will let you know how it goes! 

I am so happy here. I LOVE my companion, love my district, love Tucuman, LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! These moments are priceless. I can't believe how much I am changing and growing. The church is SO SUPER TRUE! I love telling people about it! We should never fear to tell people what we know. If it brings us happiness it will bring happiness to them. I want to challenge all of you to share your testimony! On facebook, to a friend, to a family member, to me :) Christ is coming and we have to let EVERYONE know it! Thank you all for your support. I cant even begin to say how much it means to me. This is the best time of my life because I am dong the Lord's work. But I know that you can do it too. You don't need a name tag to be a missionary. You just need a testimony :) Thank you all for being so strong and faithful. And for those who are reading my letters who aren't members or who haven't been to church for a while, Heavenly Father loves YOU! YOU are His child! Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected for YOU! It is a personal sacrifice because he loves YOU! Wow I love the gospel! I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love this work.

Until next week,

Hermana Hammond

Sisters Conference in Santiago

With Hermana Herrera

The One you won´t believe!

Hey fam!!! 

So I am now in Tucuman Oeste! It is a beautiful area! Reminds me a lot of Georgia! Lots of trees and very humid! :) But very pretty! My companion is Hermana Chipana! She is from Bolivia and will finish the mission this transfer! I have to learn the area quick! :)

I am all unpacked in the new apartment! It's huge! We live with 2 other sisters! I love it! Unfortunately I lost a bag with all of the traveling and my planner and all of my money was in it. In my planner I write everything I want to write in my letter home... I hope I can give a good report.

Leaving Cabildo was really hard but I know I will be back! That made it a lot easier! The conference of sisters was INCREDIBLE! It was just the sisters in Santiago. President went from zone to zone. We talked about who we are. I loved every second! It was just what I needed.

So this is the letter you wont believe!!! We were sitting at Oscars house and he said ah Hermanas you have to listen to this song that I found on the church website! It's beautiful! I listen to it everyday!...... He started playing it and it was uncle Rick's song Real Beauty!!! I was like, NO WAY! That's my uncle! I know how to play it on the piano! He almost didn't believe me! Ahh it was so cool! He loves uncle Rick's music! After that he went and listened to all of his songs :) Super cool!

So this week was sort of crazy! For 4 days we didn't have any electricity! It was a big crazy mess but all is well in Cabildo! haha it's so hot here it's almost a joke! And I can't just call up my grandma and say grab your swimsuit and snacks were going to the pool... no for missionaries it is so much worse because we work.... and work... and work until we pass out... which is a possibility. ;) haha but I still love it here! I think we are going to have a lot of success here! I am very excited!

Here's to a new transfer, a new area, a new companion, and another chance to learn what God has in store for me! 

Hermana Hammond

P.S. sorry I'm a slacker on pictures again..... I promise next week for sure!

We got this email about 20 minutes after Jessica left the Internet cafe:

You're not going to believe this.... we found my bag!!!!!! All my money, my cards. eVErythinG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahh I'm so happy!!! We seriously were walking back from the cafe and this lady from the lost and found called us over and gave me my bag!!! Thank you for your prayers!!! 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Here is the link to the song that Oscar loves so much:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhmBQkftCI

The last One in Cabildo!

Hello loved ones! 

Hahah I don't have much of a report this week... Sunday is transfers and I think it's about time I said my goodbyes to my lovely Cabildo. I love it here so much! It's going to be so hard to leave but a little easier knowing I will be back so soon. Anyway... wow I really have nothing to say... sorry. hahah 

This week I found oatmeal squares at the grocery store! That was pretty great. 

This week is PACKED! Tomorrow we have district meeting, Wednesday we have a special reunion with just the sisters in Santiago! President and Hermana Chaparro will be there! SO excited! Wednesday night we are going to do the family history work for Oscar's dad!! He is going to have a temple recommend interview and go be baptized for his dad. Wow life couldn't get better!

So I have a new friend for life! Hermana Herrera! We clicked! She is working in the area next to mine and we spent all p day at their apartment! We will be best friends forever! And maybe even companions one day! :) Hope so!

Culture fact: Sleeping from 1-5 is a must. Nobody is awake. Everything closes and no one answers the door.... it's called la siesta... the nap. Hahah I love it! I want to bring the tradition home :)

Okay I am going to leave the rest of my time to try and send pictures and chat with my family.

Love you all! Pray I get transferred somewhere a little cooler so I don't fry like an egg!

Hermana Hammond

The One with GENERAL CONFERENCE!

Holy smokes family did I love general conference!!! I feel overwhelmed with all I want to share with you! Here are some of the things that stood out to me. 

1. Parents. Right now I have my earthly parents, my mission parents, and my Heavenly parents. They are all here to guide me and love me. Also I have to prepare now to be the parent that will raise strong children in the gospel. I have to be strong and do all the preparation I can because the family is so important. Here's a quote that explains the whole reason I am here:

-Many young women are serving missions. Many are preparing not because they aren't married or have nothing else to do; but because they have a desire to serve and therefore are being called to the work. The reason so many are going is because Heavenly Father will be sending HIS priesthood army to the earth and wants to send them to mothers who have been properly trained and taught the gospel. What better training can a young woman have than that of serving a mission. - I LOVE THAT! 

2.Spiritual Revelation. God sent us here to make decisions. It gives us oportunities to grow! He did not send us here to be confused or alone. We have the tools to know what is God's will. 

3. PROPHETS! Wow! Do I have a desire to follow the prophets!!! What great talks! Such motivation to have so much trust in the prophet because really it is God's way of talking to, teaching, and helping His children. WOW I didn't want it to end!

Okay so update on the work. We are teaching a family right now. Mom and son. The dad died about a month ago. They came to conference and loved it! Preparing for August 25th! Espergin family :) AND!!!..... drum roll please...... JUAN CAME TO GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!! BOO YEAH! He loved it! Wants to listen to us again and is going to church Sunday!

Last night we had a lesson with Sara and Camilla! (They want to be baptized but don't have permission. We were trying to teach their dad.) Well last night he listened! He told me something cool. He said, I don't know the gospel is true, but I know that you know it's true. And I am going to do all that I can to be able to testify like you do. HOW COOL IS THAT! His heart is changing! I LOVE THIS WORK!

Okay fam bam I have to write President. I love you all so much! I can't even begin to tell you how much your prayers strengthen me. I loved the final prayer on Saturday morning blessing the families of missionaries! I once heard a quote that said, the strongest angles in heaven are now the familes of missionaries! SO TRUE! I love you all! I would love to hear what you loved most from conference! Sorry I don't have pictures this week... forgot the cord again... haha next week for sure!

BIG HUG FROM ARGENTINA!!!! 

Hermana Hammond